Description: The report delves into cinema's transformative role in storytelling and societal impact, highlighting its universal appeal beyond the elitism of literature and high art. It examines cinema's power to influence, citing historical misuses like D.W. Griffith's racist narratives and Nazi propaganda films. Focusing on post-1947 India, the report explores how cinema became a pivotal medium for shaping national identity and reflecting the country's diverse socio-political landscape, offering insights into the complex interplay between film and the formation of community identities in the world's largest democracy.
Attribution: Vani Tripathi Tikoo and Akshat Agarwal. A Screen and A Mirror: Seven Decades of Indian Cinema. Special Issue No. 207, December 2021, Esya Centre.